Every Day, The Sky is Blue

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded by Venerable HaiZe.

October 30, 2022.

The Clarity of the Original Nature

The phrase 'every day' signifies the constant, daily nature of our commitment to practice. 'The sky is blue' describes a sky that is pure, vast, and entirely free of clouds. This vast, infinite blue sky is a perfect metaphor for the state of a practitioner’s heart. Your original nature should be just like this—pure, unblemished, and vast.

The Ever-Changing Clouds of Life

Beneath this blue sky, the world is filled with constant change. Sometimes the sky is clear and cloudless. At other times, dark clouds gather, obscuring the light. Occasionally, white clouds and dark clouds drift together. This is the nature of impermanence; it is unpredictable and follows no fixed schedule. Just as the weather changes, our thoughts, emotions, and circumstances shift constantly.

Returning to the Unblemished Sky

Regardless of how the sky appears to change, the blue sky itself remains the blue sky. It is only our perspective, the view from below, that changes based on what we see. When the white clouds and dark clouds finally dissipate, and the sunlight shines through, the blue sky is revealed once more. It was always there, unchanged and eternal.

Maintaining the Pure Heart

Your practice should be exactly like this. Do not be distracted by the passing clouds of your emotions or the storms of your daily life. By chanting Namo Amituofo, you can clear away the clouds of greed, anger, and ignorance. When these are gone, your true nature—the eternal blue sky—will shine through, radiant and undisturbed. Namo Amituofo.